Dispensers for sanitary tissue products

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for dispensing sheets from a roll of a sanitary tissue product is provided. The dispenser comprises a housing defining a cavity therein. The cavity is configured to receive a roll of a sanitary tissue product having a length of L. The housing comprises a wall defining an elongate opening therein. The wall has a length of L+X and the elongate opening has a length of less than 0.95(L). A sheet from the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to be dispensed through the elongate opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/479,984 filed on Apr. 28, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is fully incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to dispensers and, more particularly, relates to dispensers for sanitary tissue products.

BACKGROUND

Sanitary tissue products in the form of paper towels, shop towels, toilet tissue, facial tissue, wet or dry wipes, and table napkins, for example, find great utility among users who value affordability, ease of use, and disposability. Sanitary tissue products are used in virtually every household, including in kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, and garages, for example. Sanitary tissue products, such as rolls of paper towels or hand towels, for example, are often dispensed from sanitary tissue product holders, from which they can be unrolled one or more sheets at a time. These sanitary tissue product holders can have two projections, wherein each end of a core of a roll of a sanitary tissue product can engage a projection to rotatably retain the sanitary tissue product thereto. To tear off a sheet, a user would generally inhibit the roll from rotating with one hand and tear the sheet off of the roll at a perforation with the other hand (i.e., two hand dispensing). Such sanitary tissue product holders are generally not located in bathrooms for aesthetic or other reasons. Sanitary tissue products, such as paper towels or hand towels, however, have great utility in bathrooms for many purposes, such as hand drying, makeup removal, and/or cleaning, for example. In view of the utility that sanitary tissue products can provide in a bathroom setting or in other settings, dispensers should be provided that are more aesthetically pleasing and more functional than current sanitary tissue product holders. Furthermore, dispensers that can provide one hand dispensing are desirable.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed, in part, to a refillable dispenser for dispensing sheets from a roll of a sanitary tissue product. The dispenser comprises a housing defining a cavity therein. The cavity is configured to receive a roll of a sanitary tissue product having a length of L. The housing comprises a wall defining an elongate opening therein. The wall has a length of L+X and the elongate opening has a length of less than 0.95(L). A sheet from the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to be dispensed through the elongate opening.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed, in part, to a dispenser for dispensing a single sheet at a time from a roll of a sanitary tissue product. The dispenser comprises a housing defining a cavity therein. The cavity is configured to receive a roll of a sanitary tissue product having a length of L. The housing comprises a projection extending within the cavity from a first or bottom surface of the housing. The roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to surround a portion of the projection. The housing defines an elongate opening in a wall thereof. The elongate opening has a length in the range of 0.40(L) to 0.99(L). A sheet from the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to be dispensed through the elongate opening.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed, in part, to a dispenser for a roll of a sanitary tissue product. The dispenser comprises a housing defining a cavity therein. The cavity is configured to receive a roll of a sanitary tissue product having a length of L. The housing comprises a projection extending within the cavity from a surface of the housing. A core or a void of the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to surround a portion of the projection. The housing comprises a wall defining an elongate opening therein. The elongate opening extends in generally the same direction as the projection and has a length in the range of 0.50(L) to 0.85(L). A sheet from the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to be dispensed through the elongate opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser for a roll of a sanitary tissue product with a lid in a partially open position in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with a roll of a sanitary tissue product positioned within a cavity defined in a housing of the dispenser in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cut away view of the dispenser of FIG. 2 with a sheet of the roll of the sanitary tissue product extending through an elongate opening in the housing and with the lid in the closed position in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 2 with a sheet of the roll of the sanitary tissue product extending through the elongate opening and with the lid in the closed position in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another lid that can be used with a dispenser of the present disclosure in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective view of various rolls of sanitary tissue products that can be used with the dispensers of the present disclosure in accordance with various non-limiting embodiments;

FIG. 7A is a view of an elongate opening in a wall of a dispenser comprising a serrated edge in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 7B is a view of another elongate opening in a wall of a dispenser comprising a beveled portion in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIGS. 8A-8F are example front illustrations of dispensers of the present disclosure defining elongate openings in a wall thereof in accordance with various non-limiting embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a dispenser defining an elongate opening with a flexible membrane extending therein in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a dispenser with a sheet of a sanitary tissue product extending through an elongate opening and with a lid in a closed position in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 10 with the lid in an open position in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 11 without the roll of the sanitary tissue product positioned therein in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the dispensers for sanitary tissue products disclosed herein. One or more examples of these non-limiting embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the dispensers for sanitary tissue products described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting example embodiments and that the scope of the various non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure are defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one non-limiting embodiment can be combined with the features of other non-limiting embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

“Fiber” as used herein means an elongate physical structure having an apparent length greatly exceeding its apparent diameter, i.e., a length to diameter ratio of at least about 10. Fibers having a non-circular cross-section and/or tubular shape are common. The “diameter,” in this case, can be considered to be the diameter of a circle having a cross-sectional area equal to the cross-sectional area of the fiber. More specifically, as used herein, “fiber” refers to fibrous structure-making fibers. The present disclosure contemplates the use of a variety of fibrous structure-making fibers, such as, for example, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, any other suitable fibers, or any combination thereof.

“Fibrous structure” as used herein means a structure that comprises one or more fibers. Nonlimiting examples of processes for making fibrous structures include known wet-laid papermaking processes and air-laid papermaking processes. Such processes typically include the steps of preparing a fiber composition in the form of a suspension in a medium, either wet, more specifically aqueous medium, or dry, more specifically gaseous, i.e., with air as the medium. The aqueous medium used for wet-laid processes is oftentimes referred to as a fiber slurry. The fibrous suspension is then used to deposit a plurality of fibers onto a forming wire or belt such that an embryonic fibrous structure is formed, after which drying and/or bonding the fibers together results in a fibrous structure. Further processing the fibrous structure can be carried out such that a finished fibrous structure is formed. For example, in typical papermaking processes, the finished fibrous structure is the fibrous structure that is wound on the reel at the end of papermaking, and can subsequently be converted into a finished product, e.g., a sanitary tissue product.

“Sanitary tissue product” as used herein means one or more finished fibrous structures, converted or not, that is useful as a wiping implement for post-urinary and post-bowel movement cleaning (e.g., toilet tissue and wet or dry wipes), for otorhinolaryngological discharges (e.g., facial tissue and wet or dry wipes), and multi-functional absorbent and cleaning uses (e.g., paper towels, shop towels, and hand towels). In one embodiment, the sanitary tissue product is a roll of paper towels or a roll of absorbent hand towels. The sanitary tissue products can be embossed or not embossed, creped or uncreped, and can be single-ply or multi-ply.

The various dispensers of the present disclosure can be configured to dispense sanitary tissue products, such as rolled sanitary tissue products, for example. The sanitary tissue products can have a multitude of functions, such as cleaning or wiping human body surfaces or other surfaces, cleaning generally, medical usage, receiving bodily discharges, hand drying, face drying, and/or makeup removal, for example. Such sanitary tissue products can be provided within the dispensers and/or positioned within the dispensers. In one embodiment, the dispensers can be configured for one hand dispensing of one or more rolled or folded sanitary tissue products therefrom. In other embodiments, the dispensers can be configured for two hand dispensing of one or more rolled or folded sanitary tissue products therefrom. In various embodiments, the dispensers can be reusable by refilling them with additional sanitary tissue products. In other embodiments, the dispensers can be configured for only a single use. The single use apparatuses can be sold with sanitary tissue products therein and can be disposable after use of all of the sanitary tissue products within the dispensers.

In one embodiment, dispensers for dispensing sheets of rolls of sanitary tissue products, such as paper towels or paper towels formed into hand towels, for example, are disclosed. In other various embodiments, the dispensers can be used to dispense other rolled or folded paper or non-paper products. The dispensers disclosed herein can be configured to dispense one or more sheets of a roll of a sanitary tissue product at a time. In other embodiments, the dispensers can be used to dispense one sheet at a time from the roll of the sanitary tissue product. The term “sheet” refers to a portion of the roll of the sanitary tissue product that is intermediate two lines of perforation or weakness. A sheet at the end of the roll of the sanitary tissue product would be positioned spirally outward from only one line of perforation or weakness. As used herein, in one embodiment, the phase “dispensing” refers to a user grasping an end sheet, or outermost sheet, of the roll of the sanitary tissue product and pulling on it to unroll a portion of the roll of the sanitary tissue product to separate the sheet from the roll. In various embodiments, the single sheet can be removed from the dispenser by a user using only one hand, although two-handed sheet removal dispensers are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, the dispensers of the present disclosure can be configured to dispense folded sanitary tissue products and/or interfolded sanitary tissue products. The folded sanitary tissue products can be positioned with a cavity of the dispensers although the projections, as described herein, may not be provided.

In various embodiments, the dispensers can be refillable or reloadable after a roll of the sanitary tissue product within each dispenser is depleted. The dispensers can be sold or provided with or without rolls of sanitary tissue product therein. If a roll of a sanitary tissue product is provided with, or sold with, the dispenser, the roll of the sanitary tissue product can be replaced upon depletion by opening a portion of the dispenser, removing the core, if any, of the depleted roll of the sanitary tissue product, and positioning a new roll of sanitary tissue product within the dispenser. In one embodiment, replacement rolls of sanitary tissue product to be used with the dispensers can be sold with the dispensers or sold separately from the dispensers. Packages of replacement rolls of sanitary tissue products can comprise any number of rolls in any suitable configuration (e.g., four count package, large count package).

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a dispenser 10 configured to receive a roll of a sanitary tissue product 12 can comprise a housing 14 defining a cavity 16 therein. The cavity 16 is configured to at least partially receive, or fully receive, the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. The housing 14 can comprise a lid 18 movably, rotatably, and/or pivotably attached to another portion of the housing 14. A lid can also be slidably engaged with a portion of the housing 14 to allow a user access to the cavity 16 for replacement of the roll of sanitary tissue product 12 within the housing 14 upon depletion or change out. In one embodiment, a lid can also be merely positionable on a top portion of a housing and not connected to the housing. In other embodiments, a housing may not comprise a lid or a bottom surface and, instead, can define an opening in a top or bottom portion thereof (not illustrated) through which a roll of a sanitary tissue product can be removed from the cavity 16 and/or positioned within the cavity 16 during loading, unloading, and reloading of the dispenser. In one embodiment, the housing 14 can comprise six surfaces, sides, or walls (hereafter “walls”) and can form a cuboid shape. The walls can include a front wall 20, a back wall 22, a first side wall 24, a second side wall 26, a top wall 28 formed on the lid 18 (if a lid or other top wall is provided), and a bottom wall 30 (if a bottom wall is provided). Each wall of the housing 14 can have two surfaces. One surface of each wall can face the cavity 16 and the other surface of each of the walls can face an external environment of the dispenser 10. In various embodiments, the walls can be square or rectangular, flat, generally flat, arcuate, and/or can have any other suitable shape. In other various embodiments, the housing 14 can comprise any suitable number of walls to form any type of shaped dispenser, including one wall for a round dispenser, for example.

In various embodiments, the housing 14 itself, or the walls thereof, can comprise aesthetic design elements to give the dispenser 10 an artistic look or a themed look, such as a sports-themed look or a holiday-themed look, for example. In other embodiments, the walls can comprise indicia, such as branding information or instructions for using the dispenser. The cavity-facing surfaces of the walls can define the cavity 16 within the housing 14. In various embodiments, any or all of the front wall 20, the back wall 22, the first side wall 24, and the second side wall 26 can have apertures, elongate openings, slots, grooves, and/or design elements defined therein or therethrough. The apertures, elongate openings, and/or slots can be used to dispense sheets of a roll of a sanitary tissue product from the cavity 16 of the dispenser 10.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1-4, the lid 18 can be formed by the top wall 28 of the housing 14 or by the top wall 28 and by a portion of one or more of the front wall 20, the back wall 22, the first side wall 24, and the second side wall 26. The lid 18 can be movably, rotatably, and/or pivotably attached to a portion of the housing 14, such as the back wall 22, for example, using a hinge 19 or similar attachment mechanism and can allow the lid 18 to be moveable between an open position, or partially open position, (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a closed position (FIGS. 3 and 4). The lid 18 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated in the partially open position, but can open further or fully in the direction of arrow A to allow a roll of a sanitary tissue product to be inserted into the cavity 16. As stated above, the lid 18 can be merely positioned on a top portion of a dispenser in one embodiment. In various embodiments, the lid 18 can comprise a gripping knob (not illustrated) to remove it from the housing 14 or open it. When the lid 18 is in the open position, access to the cavity 16 can be provided to allow a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 to be positioned within the cavity 16 or to allow the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 to be replaced. When the lid 18 is in the closed position, access to the cavity 16 for replacement and/or removal of the sanitary tissue product 12 can be restricted or prevented. Although the lid 18 is shown in FIG. 1 as having a particular configuration, those of skill in the art will recognize that the lid can have any other suitable configuration that is movable between an open position and a closed position and/or that is movable to allow access to the cavity 16. In one embodiment, the top wall 28 may not be provided to allow a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 to be positioned within a cavity of a dispenser through the opening formed by the perimeter of the front wall 20, the back wall 32, the first side wall 24, and the second side wall 26.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, a bottom portion, the bottom wall 30, and/or another portion of the housing 14 can comprise one or more weights or weighted portions 31 so that the dispenser 10 is heavy enough to allow for one hand dispensing of a sheet of the sanitary tissue product 12. Stated another way, the one or more weights or weighted portions 31 should be heavy enough to withstand or counteract the one-handed tearing and/or pulling force applied to the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 and/or the dispenser 10 during separation of one or more sheets from the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12, without the need to hold the dispenser 10 with another hand. Such a feature can prevent, or at least inhibit, a user from having to grasp the dispenser 10 with one hand while tearing a sheet of the sanitary tissue product 12 with another hand, thereby eliminating, or at least inhibiting, contamination of the non-tearing hand (after hand washing) due to touching a portion of the dispenser 10. In one embodiment, the weight or weighted portion 31 can be attached to the dispenser 10 or formed with the dispenser 10. In other various embodiments, the housing 14 of the dispenser 10 itself can be heavy enough to allow for one hand dispensing. In one embodiment, the one or more weights or weighted portions 31 or the dispenser 10 (with or without the weights or weighted portions 31) can weigh between about one and about ten pounds, alternatively between about three and about seven pounds, and alternatively between about three and about five pounds, specifically reciting all 1.0 g increments within the above-recited ranges. In still other embodiments, the dispenser 10 may not be heavy enough to withstand the pulling and/or tearing force of removing a sheet from the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. In such an instance, a user can use one hand to hold the dispenser 10 and the other hand to tear off the sheet (i.e., two hand dispensing).

In other embodiments, the weights or weighted portions 31 may not be provided and the bottom wall 30 can have features that allow it to retain the dispenser 10 to a surface, such as a countertop or a top of a back of a toilet, for example. In one embodiment, the features can comprise suction cups, hook and loop fasteners or hook and hook fasteners (one side of which can be attached to the surface), adhesives, adhesive strips, and/or high coefficient of friction materials, such as rubber, for example. In still other embodiments, the dispenser 10 can be mounted to a surface using appropriate fasteners secured through the bottom wall 30 or other walls. In one embodiment, a mount can be attached to a surface and the dispenser 10 can be engaged with, or removably engaged with, the mount. In yet other embodiments, the dispenser 10 can comprise hooks or hangers (not illustrated) extending therefrom, such as from the back wall 22 or the top wall 28, for example. The hooks or hangers can be used to hang the dispenser 10 from a towel bar, towel ring, door, or other suitable member. In one embodiment, the dispensers 10 can comprise an adhesive or adhesive strips thereon such that the dispensers 10 can be adhered, or removably adhered, to a surface, such as a counter top, a mirror, and/or a wall, for example. In one embodiment, the dispenser 10 can have a low center of gravity so that it does not tip over when a sanitary tissue product 12 is dispensed therefrom.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1-3, the dispenser 10 can comprise a projection 32 extending within the cavity 16 from a bottom wall 30 of the housing 14. The projection 32 can extend in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of an elongate opening and can be configured to receive a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 thereon. In one embodiment, a core of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can surround a portion of, or all of, the projection 32. Coreless rolls of sanitary tissue products 12 having voids defined therein can also surround a portion of, or all of, the projection 32. From a horizontally-taken cross-sectional standpoint, the projection 32 can be arcuate, semi-circular, ovate, and/or circular in shape. By providing such cross-sectional shapes on the projection 32, a core of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can rotate about the projection 32 when placed thereon. In other embodiments, the projection 32 can comprise other cross-sectional profiles, such as square, rectangular, and/or triangular, for example. In one embodiment, the projection 32 can extending within the cavity 16 any suitable distance which allows it to maintain the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, or another suitable position. The projection 32 can be formed of the same material as the housing 14 or can be formed from another material and can be formed with the housing 14 or can be attached to the housing 14. In one embodiment, the projection 32 can be coated with or can comprise a high coefficient of friction material, such as rubber, for example, to limit, or at least somewhat restrict, the rotational movement of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 thereon during dispensing. Such a feature can be desirable when slower dispensing is desired and/or when the perforations in the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 have a high break tensile strength. In other various embodiments, the projection 32 can be coated with or can comprise a low coefficient of friction material, such as Teflon®, for example. Such a feature can be desirable when faster dispensing is desired and/or when the perforations of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 have a low break tensile strength.

In one embodiment, the lid 18 can comprise a second projection 34 extending from the cavity-facing surface of the top wall 28 toward the projection 32 when the lid 18 is in the closed position. The second projection 34 can be configured to be at least partially surrounded by a core, if any, of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 or a coreless roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. The second projection 34 can engage, or can be at least partially positioned within, the core when the lid 18 is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the second projection 34 can also engage or abut the projection 32 when the lid 18 is in the closed position to form a two piece column-like structure within the cavity 16. The roll of the sanity tissue product 12 can be positioned around at least a portion of the column-type structure and use the same for support during dispensing. The roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can rotate about the column-like structure. In various embodiments, the column-like structure can extend from the bottom wall 30 of the housing 14 to the top wall 28 of the housing 14. In other embodiments, the second projection 34 may not engage or abut the projection 32 when the lid 18 is in the closed position but, instead, a gap can be formed between the second projection 34 and the projection 32. In various embodiments, the dispensers can be provided without the second projection 34 and the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can be retained within the cavity 16 by the projection 32 alone. Similarly, the projection 32 may not be provided and the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can be retained within the cavity 16 by the second projection 34 alone.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the housing 14 can define an elongate opening 36 in a wall thereof, such as the front wall 20. In various embodiments, the elongate opening 36 can extend into or to a recess formed in the front wall 20 that is configured to receive a portion of the lid 18. Such a feature can allow a sheet of the sanitary tissue product 12 to be placed into the elongate opening 36. The elongate opening 36 can be configured to receive one of more sheets of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 therethrough for dispensing. Each sheet of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can be dispensed from the cavity 16 through the elongate opening 36. Prior to being dispensed, a sheet can extend partially though the elongate opening 36 such that a user can grasp an end of the sheet for dispensing. In one embodiment, the elongate opening 36 can have a length dimension of less than about 0.99(L), L being the length dimension of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 within the cavity 16. In other various embodiments, the elongate opening 36 can have a length dimension of less than about 0.95(L), alternatively less than about 0.90(L), alternatively less than about 0.85(L), alternatively less than about 0.80(L), alternatively less than about 0.70(L), alternatively in the range of about 0.30(L) to about 0.99(L), alternatively in the range of about 0.40(L) to about 0.99(L), alternatively in the range of about 0.50(L) to about 0.95(L), alternatively in the range of about 0.50(L) to about 0.85(L), and specifically reciting all 0.05 increments within such the ranges. The length of the elongate opening 36 can be measured in whatever units, such as inches, that the length of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 is measured in. Referring to FIG. 4, the wall in which the elongate opening 36 is defined, such as the front wall 20, can have a length dimension of L+X, wherein L is the length dimension of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12, and wherein X is the length dimension of the wall minus the length of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. Therefore, L+X provides the full length of the wall or A. The wall does not necessarily have to be flat or generally flat.

In one embodiment, the elongate opening 36 can extend in a direction parallel to, or generally parallel to, a longitudinal axis of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 positioned within the cavity 16. In other various embodiments, the elongate opening 36 can extend in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 positioned within the cavity 16. In such an embodiment, the transverse positioning of the elongate opening 36 relative to the longitudinal axis of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can create drag on the sheet as it is being pulled through the elongate opening 36, thereby encouraging the perforations holding the sheet to the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 to tear during dispensing. In other embodiments, a portion of the elongate opening 36 can extend parallel to, or generally parallel to, a longitudinal axis of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 and another portion of the elongate opening 36 can extend transverse to a longitudinal axis of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. Again, such positioning of the elongate opening 36 can create drag on each individual sheet during dispensing, thereby causing or allowing the perforations to separate during dispensing. In other embodiments, the elongate opening 36 can extend in a direction parallel to, or generally parallel to, a longitudinal axis of the projection 32 and/or the projection 34.

In general, the length of the elongate opening 36 can be less than the length of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. This allows some drag or frictional force to be placed on each sheet of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 as it is pulled through the elongate opening 36. This also allows for compression of the sheet in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate opening 36. In addition to providing drag and compression on the sheet, the elongate opening 36 having a length less than the length of the roll of sanitary tissue product 12 (and, thereby, the length of each individual sheet) can cause perforations in the roll of sanitary tissue product 12 to separate upon application of a pulling force to a sheet, thereby allowing for one hand, single sheet dispensing. As a first sheet is pulled fully through the elongate opening 36, a second sheet can follow the first sheet into a position at least partially through the elongate opening 36. As a result, after pulling the first sheet fully through the elongate opening 36, thereby separating it from the roll of sanitary tissue product 12, the second sheet can extend partially through the elongate opening 36 so that it can be grasped by a user when a second sheet is desired, for dispensing. The width of the elongate opening 36 can also be narrow enough to create drag on the sanitary tissue products 12, or may be wide enough to not create drag, or noticeable drag, on the sanitary tissue products 12.

In one embodiment, a lowermost portion of the elongate opening 36 can be positioned generally flush with a bottom surface of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. Thus, an uppermost portion of the elongate opening 36 would not be flush with a top surface of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12, as the elongate opening 36 is shorter than the length of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. In other embodiments, an uppermost portion of the elongate opening 36 can be positioned generally flush with an upper surface of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. Thus, a lowermost portion of the elongate opening 36 would not be flush with a bottom surface of a roll of the sanitary tissue product 12. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 5, an elongate opening 36′ can extend to a portion of a front wall 20′ of a dispenser that is located on a lid 18′ of a dispenser.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can comprise a roll having a length dimension, L, in the range of about four inches to about thirteen inches, alternatively, about six inches to about 12 inches, alternatively about 6.5 inches to about 11.5 inches, alternatively, about 7 inches to about 11 inches, and specifically reciting every ⅛th inch increment within the above-referenced length ranges. In various embodiments, the roll of sanitary tissue product 12 can have a length dimension of about 7.5 inches or of about 11 inches. In one embodiment, the length dimension, L, can have a tolerance of plus or minus 0.25 inches. The rolls of the sanitary tissue product 12 can have cores or voids 13 extending therethrough. The sheets that comprise the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can be unfolded, C-folded, and/or otherwise folded as recognized by those of those of skill in the art. In one embodiment, the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can be paper towels, such as Bounty® manufactured by The Procter & Gamble Company. Although, specific lengths of the rolls of the sanitary tissue product are disclosed for example, those of skill in the art will recognize that other suitable roll lengths can be appropriate depending on the size of a particular dispenser or a particular consumer need. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited to a particular roll length, unless as specified in the appended claims.

In one embodiment, the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 can have a diameter in the range of about 2 inches to about eight inches, alternatively in the range of about 3 inches to about 7 inches, alternatively in the range of about 4 inches to about 6 inches, alternatively about 4.7 inches, alternatively about 4.9 inches, alternatively small enough to fit within the cavity of a dispenser with some clearance, and specifically reciting every ⅛^(th) inch increment within the above-referenced diameter ranges. Although, specific diameters of the rolls of the sanitary tissue product 12 are disclosed as examples, those of skill in the art will recognize that other suitable roll diameters can be appropriate depending on the size of a particular dispenser or a particular consumer need.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a perimeter wall 38 of an elongate opening 36′ can comprise a member configured to aid in breaking the perforations between sheets of the roll of the sanitary tissue product 12 during dispensing. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 7A, the member can comprise one or more serrations 40 extending from the perimeter wall 38 into the elongate opening 36′. The serrations 40 can engage portions of the sanitary tissue product 12 between the sheets where, or proximate to where, perforations are present during dispensing, thereby causing the perforations to break. In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 7B, the perimeter wall 38 of the elongate opening 36′ can comprise one or more beveled portions 42 extending into the elongate opening 36. The beveled portion 42 can engage portions of the sanitary tissue product 12 between the sheets where, or proximate to where, perforations are present during dispensing, thereby causing the perforations to break. In one embodiment, both the serrations 40 and the beveled portion 42 can be provided on the perimeter wall 38, such as formed with or attached to the perimeter wall 38. The serrations 40 and the beveled portion 42 can be positioned at any suitable location on the perimeter wall 38, such as on elongate side portions of the perimeter wall 38 or on end portion of the perimeter wall 38. The serrations 40 and the beveled portion 42 can extend from the perimeter wall 38 in a plane parallel, or generally parallel, with the front wall 20. In other embodiments, the serrations 40 and the beveled portion 42 can extend from the perimeter wall 38 in a direction toward the cavity 16. Such inward angling of the serrations 40 and the beveled portions 42 can be a safety feature of the dispenser. The serrations 40 and the beveled portion 42 can assert a drag force on the sheet or on a sheet spirally behind the sheet being dispensed, to cause the perforations between the two sheets to break. In other embodiments, the perimeter wall 38 can comprise rough surfaces, high coefficient of friction materials, ridges, pointed surfaces, and/or other suitable features that can aid in asserting a drag force on the sheets during dispensing and/or that can cause the perforations between the sheets to break. In still other embodiments, the perforation tensile strength (i.e., force to break the perforations) of perforations of a roll of a sanitary tissue product can be changed, such as lowered, to allow one sheet to easily separate from another sheet about the perforations during dispensing.

In various embodiments, the elongate opening of the dispensers can be linear or non-linear. Some example elongate openings on walls of dispensers are illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8F. Referring to FIG. 8A, a first portion 50 of an elongate opening can extend in a first direction and a second portion 52 of the elongate opening can extend in a second direction. This can form a point 54 in an elongate opening of the dispenser. The point 54 can help break perforations between sheets of the sanitary tissue product 12 when a sheet is dispensed through the elongate opening. The dispenser illustrated in FIG. 8A can comprise a lid 18″. All of the other dispensers illustrated in FIGS. 8B-8F can also comprise a similar or different lid, although not illustrated. Referring to FIG. 8B, an elongate opening can comprise a gripping area 56 configured to allow a user to insert two or more fingers into the elongate opening to grasp a portion of a sheet of a sanitary tissue product positioned within the dispenser. Such a feature can be provided in any of the elongate openings disclosed herein. Referring to FIG. 8C, an elongate opening can comprise a generally linear opening having a peak 58 formed in each side perimeter wall of the elongate opening. The peak 58 can be used to help break perforations between sheets of the sanitary tissue product 12 when a sheet is dispensed through the elongate opening. Referring to FIGS. 8D and 8E, an elongate opening can have one or more curved portions 60 defined therein. Referring to FIG. 8F, an elongate opening can be ovate and can optionally comprise one or more barbs 62 extending from a perimeter wall forming the elongate opening. The barbs 62 can help break perforations between sheets of the sanitary tissue product 12 when a sheet is dispensed through the elongate opening. Various other elongate openings or openings generally are also within the scope of the present disclosure. Such openings can have any features that aid in breaking the perforations between sheets of the sanitary tissue product 12 when a sheet is dispensed through the openings. The various elongate openings or openings can also be configured to retain a sheet positioned therein in a partially dispensed position, such that the sheet is easy for a user to grasp when a sheet is desired.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 9, a flexible membrane 64 can extend over, or at least partially over, an elongate opening 66 in a wall of a dispenser. The flexible membrane 64 can have one or more slits 68 defined therein through which sheets of the sanitary tissue product 12 can be dispensed. The sheets can be held in a partially dispensed position by the flexible membrane 64 when positioned at least partially within the slits 68. The slits 68 can have any suitable size or shape and can be linear and/or non-linear. In one embodiment, the flexible membrane 64 can seal, or at least partially seal, a cavity of the dispenser from an external environment. Such a feature, in combination with optional seals between a lid and a portion of the housing of the dispenser, can maintain a sanitary tissue product within a cavity of the dispenser in a wet condition (e.g., rolls of wet wipes), in a dry condition (e.g., rolls of paper towels), and/or maintain the sanitary tissue product in a sanitary state.

The various dispensers of the present disclosure can comprise transparent or see through “windows” that enable a consumer to view into the cavity of a dispenser and determine how many sanitary tissue products remain or to determine the status of the sanitary tissue products. In one embodiment, portions of the dispensers can comprise one or more light sources, such as light emitting diodes or light bulbs, for example, that can act as night lights, for example. In various embodiments, the one or more light sources can be operably linked to switches or motion detectors to activate the light sources. The lights sources can be powered by any suitable sources, such as a battery, for example. In one embodiment, the dispensers can comprise one or more sealing members configured to seal the cavities of the dispensers to at least inhibit air from entering and exiting the cavity. Such seals can be useful when sanitary tissue products, such as wet wipes, are positioned within the cavities to inhibit the wet wipes from drying out. In other embodiments, the seals can be useful in inhibiting contamination, such as dirt, from entering the cavities. In one embodiment, the seals can be positioned intermediate the lid 18 and a portion of the housing 14.

In various embodiments, the dispensers of the present disclosure can have slots, apertures, or recesses therein configured to receive scent packets, such that a scent can be diffused into an environment surrounding the dispensers. In other embodiments, the scent packets may be attachable to the dispensers.

Method of Measuring “L”:

One method of measuring L, the length of a roll of a sanitary tissue product, is to position the roll of the sanitary tissue product on a flat, or a generally flat, surface such that a central longitudinal axis of a core or void formed in the roll extends in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane of the surface. Stated another way, the central longitudinal axis of the core or void should extend in a generally vertical direction when the roll is positioned on the surface. A length measurement instrument, such as a ruler or a tape measure, for example, having any suitable unit demarcations thereon, can be used to take the length measurement. The units can be in inches or centimeters, for example. The length measurement instrument can then be inserted into the core or void until an end portion of it contacts the surface on which the roll of the sanitary tissue product is positioned. When a portion of the length measurement instrument is positioned within the core or void and the end portion contacts the surface, another portion of the length measurement instrument should extend from the core or void. A user should position his or her eyes essentially along the plane of a top surface of the core and/or the roll of the sanitary tissue product to read the portion of the length measurement instrument at the location where it exits the core or void. Such a reading will provide the length of the roll of the sanitary tissue product. Those of skill in the art will recognize other suitable methods of measuring the length of the roll, such as by using a length measurement instrument to measure the length of the sanitary tissue product on the roll when the roll is positioned on a surface with the core or void in a generally horizontal position.

Method of Measuring the Elongate Opening:

The elongate opening is measured from one end of the elongate opening to the other longitudinally opposing end of the elongate opening from the midpoint of each of the ends. The elongate opening should be measured with the same length measurement instrument that is used for measuring L. The elongate opening will be measured in a linear fashion from the first end to the second end regardless of whether the elongate opening is linear or nonlinear. In the event, the elongate opening does not have a defined ends (e.g., an ovate elongate opening), the length should be measured about the central longitudinal axis.

Method of Measuring the Overall Length of the Dispenser:

To determine the overall length of the dispenser, a length measurement instrument may be used to measure from a bottom most portion of the dispenser to a top most portion of the dispenser in a linear direction. The measurement will be taken about the longest dimension of a side of the dispenser. The length measurement instrument should be the same as that used in measuring “L” and the elongate opening.

“X”, although not illustrated fully in FIG. 4, is the sum of the portion labeled “X” and the linear distance between the bottom line for “L” and the bottom line for “A”. The sum of the two distances equals “X” for purposes of the claims. As such, “X” can be calculated by taking the overall length of the dispenser “A” and then subtracting “L” (e.g., A−L=X or X+L=A).

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any embodiment disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such embodiment. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this disclosure. 

1. A refillable dispenser for dispensing sheets from a roll of a sanitary tissue product, the dispenser comprising: a housing defining a cavity therein, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a roll of a sanitary tissue product having a length of L, the housing comprising: a wall defining an elongate opening therein, wherein the wall has a length of L+X, wherein the elongate opening has a length of less than 0.95(L), and wherein a sheet from the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to be dispensed through the elongate opening.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the elongate opening has a length of less than 0.8(L).
 3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the elongate opening has a length of less than 0.7(L).
 4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the elongate opening has a length in the range of 0.50(L) to 0.95(L).
 5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein L is in the range of about 6 inches to about 12 inches.
 6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein L is about 7.5 inches or about 11 inches.
 7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein, when the lid is in the open position, access to the cavity is provided.
 8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the lid is pivotably attached to a second wall of the housing.
 9. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the lid comprises a projection extending therefrom, wherein the projection is configured to be positioned at least partially within a core of the roll of the sanitary tissue product when the lid is in the closed position.
 10. The dispenser of claim 1, comprising a beveled edge or serrations extending into the elongate opening.
 11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the elongate opening extends in a first direction, wherein a second portion of the elongate opening extends in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is transverse to the second direction.
 12. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprising a weight or a weighted portion.
 13. The dispenser of claim 1, comprising a roll of a sanitary tissue product positioned within the cavity.
 14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the roll of the sanitary tissue product has a length in the range of about 7 inches to about 8 inches.
 15. The dispenser of claim 1, comprising a projection extending within the cavity from a bottom wall of the housing, wherein a core of the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to surround at least a portion of the projection when positioned within the cavity.
 16. A dispenser for dispensing a single sheet at a time from a roll of a sanitary tissue product, the dispenser comprising: a housing defining a cavity therein, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a roll of a sanitary tissue product having a length of L, the housing comprising: a projection extending within the cavity from a first surface of the housing, wherein the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to surround a portion of the projection; and the housing defining an elongate opening in a wall thereof, wherein the elongate opening has a length in the range of 0.40(L) to 0.99(L), and wherein a sheet from the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to be dispensed through the elongate opening.
 17. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the roll of the sanitary tissue product is a roll of paper towels.
 18. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the housing comprises a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the lid comprises a second projection extending from a portion of the lid, and wherein the projection is configured to be at least partially positioned within a core of the roll of the sanitary tissue product when the lid is in the closed position.
 19. The dispenser of claim 16, comprising a roll of a sanitary tissue product positioned at least partially within the cavity.
 20. A dispenser for a roll of a sanitary tissue product, the dispenser comprising: a housing defining a cavity therein, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a roll of a sanitary tissue product having a length of L, the housing comprising: a projection extending within the cavity from a bottom surface of the housing, wherein a core of the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to surround a portion of the projection; and a wall defining an elongate opening therein, wherein the elongate opening extends in generally the same direction as the projection, wherein the elongate opening has a length in the range of about 0.50(L) to about 0.85(L), and wherein a sheet from the roll of the sanitary tissue product is configured to be dispensed through the elongate opening. 